Julian Assange Offers a Job to Google Employee Fired Over Sexist Memo

So to be clear again, many points raised in the memo - such as the portions criticizing Google's trainings, questioning the role of ideology in the workplace, and debating whether programs for women and underserved groups are sufficiently open to all - are important topics. After a firestorm of criticism, Googlefired the engineer.

"Earlier in the week, Google's CEO, Sundar Pichai, circulated his own statement to employees condemning Damore'snote as "[violating] our Code of Conduct and cross the line by advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace". Google has not confirmed who the employee is, but media reports name him as James Damore.

"I have a legal right to express my concerns about the terms and conditions of my working environment and to bring up potentially illegal behavior, which is what my document does", he toldthe New York Times.

Kelly Ellis, a software engineer who used to work for Google, says some female employees stayed home Monday because the memo made them "uncomfortable going back to work", according to NPR.

Some have noted that the software engineer's firing for "perpetuating gender stereotypes" may be an indicator that Damore's memo had some credibility in that alternative views at Google are being repressed.

A spokesperson for Google has so far declined to comment on the case, but described the group of 60 as 'a really small sample size'.

One woman recently departed Google and said she was denied promotions that ultimately went to her male colleagues.

"Mom, is it true that there are biological reasons why there are fewer women in tech and leadership?"

The civil rights attorney leading the class action suit, James Finberg, told The Guardian that the women plan to take action against the company because they believe they have earned less than their male counterparts, despite having equal qualifications and comparable positions. The author wrote: "We need to stop assuming that gender gaps imply sexism".

Google is now defending itself from a lawsuit from the US Department of Labour which is alleging that the company systematically discriminates against women.

Over the weekend, the company distanced itself from the memo via a letter sent to employees by Google'sdiversity chief Danielle Brown, who wrote that the memo was not a viewpoint that the "company endorses, promotes or encourages".

Following his dismissal by Google for the memo, Damore is reportedly "exploring all possible legal remedies", telling Wired that he was sacked for "perpetuating gender stereotypes". They also said men were getting more bonuses and stock options, leading the gap to widen over time.